Telegram is the most popular channel for OpenClaw — it’s fast, reliable, works on every device, and has a well-designed bot API. Here’s how to connect OpenClaw to Telegram from scratch.
Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot
- Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
- Send:
/newbot - Choose a name for your bot (this is the display name)
- Choose a username ending in “bot” (e.g.,
myopenclaw_bot) - BotFather sends you an API token — save this
Step 2: Configure OpenClaw
Run openclaw setup and when prompted for channel, select Telegram. Enter your bot token. OpenClaw handles the rest of the connection automatically.
Step 3: Start a Conversation
Find your bot in Telegram (search for its username), send /start, and begin chatting. Your OpenClaw agent is now live on Telegram.
Privacy Settings
By default, your Telegram bot responds to anyone who knows its username. To restrict access to only yourself:
- Find your Telegram user ID (message @userinfobot)
- In OpenClaw config, set
allowedUsersto your ID - OpenClaw ignores messages from any other user
Useful Commands After Setup
- Just type naturally — OpenClaw understands conversational requests
- Ask it to remember things: “Remember that my standup is at 9am on weekdays”
- Set it tasks: “Check my email and summarize anything important”
- Use skills: “What’s the weather in New York tomorrow?”
Keeping It Running 24/7
OpenClaw on Telegram needs to stay running to receive messages. For always-on availability, a DigitalOcean VPS is the most reliable option — new users get $200 free credit. Your bot stays online even when your laptop is closed.
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